Nonrefillable bottle



Nov. l1, 1941. J. A. PATTERSON NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE Filed Jly 6, 1940 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE art, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application July 6, 1940, Serial No. 344,272

(Cl. 21S- 26) 2 claims.

My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in non-reiillable bottles and particularly to a cap assembly which is to be iitted over the neck of the bottle so that the contents of the bottle may be easily dispensed but the bottle cannot be reiilled.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a cap assembly that will be relatively cheap to manufacture and readily and easily placed on a bottle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a non-refillable bottle wherein the cap assembly is to be clamped or sealed to the neck of the bottle, in which cap there is but one small movable valve which is held in its normal position by its weight and by a spring, so that when this valve is lled with liquid and the bottle is inverted, the weight of the valve with its liquid will overcome the spring pressure and permit the said valve to lower, thus permitting the liquid to flow under the base of the valve, past the valve guide and into the open throat of the cap and out the same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a non-refillable bottle assembly which comprises in the main but three parts, to wit: the

`body of the cap assembly, a valve guide, and an open-ended movable reservoir valve which is normally held in a closed position by a small spring interposed between the guide and the upper surface of the reservoir valve.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements and combination of parts, as willl be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawing showing a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary portion of a bottle to which is secured my improved cap assembly, the latter being in section; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, but showing the bottle ina tilted position and the valve in its dispensing position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional Viewr taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the reservoir valve; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the valve guide or valve cage.

Referring now more particularly to the several views, and for the moment to Fig.` l, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a bottle I, with its neck 2 and its annular flange 3. Any form of Iiange may be utilized, provided it forms a grip for a metal sleeve or seal 4, which is to be clamped around the body of the cap member and over the said iiange. l

The cap member consists of the cylindrical or tubular body 5, which tapers inwardly at the throat 6 and then continues upwardly, as at 1, at a reduced diameter. The cork or stopper 8 will normally be kept in the cap member but is, of course, to be removed when the liquid is to be dispensed.

The cap member may be made of aluminum or any light metal alloy that may be readily cast at a relatively low cost.

In Fig. 1, it will be noticed that in the upper portion of the cap and internally thereof, just below the plane where the body starts `to taper, the metal is recessed to form an annular flange or stop 9, against which the valve guide I0 is to be positioned, as this guide member, after once being assembled, always remains in a stationary position.

Referring now for the moment to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, there is shown in detail this valve guide I0, and it will be seen that it consists oi four spaced vertical similar upright legs II with the inwardly projecting top portions I2 which provide the at or plane surfaces to engage the heretofore-mentioned annular flange 9 within the body of the cap member.

Formed integral with the legs and positioned on top of the inwardly extending portions I2 thereof may be seen the disc I3, with a smaller superimposed concentric disc I4. This valve guide may be likewise cast in one piece so that the cost of the same is relatively small.

The disc I3, it will be noticed, is less in diameter than the distance from the outer edge of one leg to the outer edge of the opposite leg, so that when the liquid is dispensed, it may flow between the legs and over the periphery of this reduced disc.

The length of the legs II is to be such that they will bear tightly against a gasket or nonmetal washer I5 forming a seat, which may be seen in Fig. 1, that rests on the upper circular edge of the mouth of the bottle.

The distance between the opposite legs is just slightly greater than the diameter of the reservoir valve so that the valve may slide freely when in position, as will `shortly be explained.

It will also be noticed that formed in the under surface of the discs I3 and I4 is a well I4' to receive the upper end of a spring, to be hereinafter mentioned.

Referring for the moment to Figs. 1 to 4, there pocket I9, in which is positioned a spring 20,

`which has its opposite ends tting within the Vwell I4 of the guide member II'I, heretofore referred to.

- The weight of the valve reservoir, together with the pressure of the spring, will normally cause the reservoir valve to assume the position as shown in Fig. 1, the lower peripheral edge of the valve thereby bearing `against the heretofore-mentioned washer or gasket I5 to form a liquid seal with the said gasket.

From this, it will be seen that the bottle cap assembly consists principally of the body 3, the valve guide I0, and the reservoir valve I6 with its spring I9 and the washer against which the valve seats.

To assemble, there is first placed a cork gasket 2I yoverthe neck of the bottle, as may be seen in Figs-l and 2, after` which the cap with its guide member, washer, spring and valve reser- Voir is placed over the 4neckl of the bottle and the metal seal 4 applied mechanically, which tightly holds the cap and its parts in place, as willbe readily understood.`

The operation is as-follows:

Afterthe bottle is lled at the kdistillery or bottling plant and the cap placed in position as just explained, it becomes a non-rellable bottle.

However, the contents may be easily dispensed by .tilting the bottle, as shown in Fig. 2, and the reservoir valve member I6 now being filled 'with liquid and its weight increased will slide to the position shown in Fig. 2, vso that the liquid may pass from the bottle through the neck and underneathfthe lower peripheral edge of the reservoir valve (which has now` fallen from its seat) `vand pass between and along the legs II of the guide member and past the periphery of the disc I3v and out through the neck of the bottle.

lAs long as the `bottleis held in this position, theV liquid may flow therefrom, but immediately on the straightening of theA bottle the reservoir valve will yagain drop`(assisted by the spring) to its normal position and seat on itswasher and thus prevent any refilling of the bottle.

By also yproviding the discs I3 and I4, it will be seeny that should anyone try to unlawfully'll the bottle by placing a relatively long, thin instrument in the bottle neck, the instrument would impinge on the disc I3zor the disc I4 and in no way'act on the valve to raise or lower it from its seat, dependingon whether the bottle was held in an upright or tilted position. Y

`Awire, for instance, if placed in the bottle to aie'ct'thev valve, would be deflected by the metal discs -andv even though it should extend downwardly between vthe legs, it could not contact with the valve. y From the..foegoing, it will be seen that the entire cap assembly is extremely simple andfoolproof. Also, it can be cheaply assembled and readily made. By having the valve seat at its bottom,r a,relatively high annular passageway isprovided for the low of the liquid so the contentsmay be dispensed in a relatively rapid manner rather than a few drops at a time, which is often ther casewith other forms of non-rellable bottles.A I

D iierent size cap assemblies will be made for different size bottles, and it will be understood that the drawing illustrating the device is illustrative of onev successful embodiment.

It will also be understood that when the cap assembly is placed on the bottle, it will be done under pressure, so that when the seal is applied, the lower edge of the cap assembly will bear tightly against its cork gasket and prevent any of the liquid from leaking from around the neck of the bottle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In combination, a fiuid container having a `flanged neck, a dispensing closure therefor, in-

cluding a cylindrical cap member open at its top and bottom'tting about said neck, a seal iitting over said flange and about the cap member to hold the latter in place, the body portion of the cap member having a flange internally thereof near its upper portion, a valve guide having oppositely spaced legs tted within the body and the upper portion of said legs abutting against saidange, a reduced size disc forming the top of the valve guide member, providing passageways between the legs to the neck of the cap member, a washer on the upper edge of the neck of the bottle to form a valve seat and held in position by the legs of said Valve guide, a reservoir valve slidingly fitted within the valve guide member, a spring interposed between said valve guide member and said reservoir valve, the reservoir valve resting onsaid seat when the container is in an upright position to prevent relling of the container, and said reservoir valve unseating when the container is tipped and the said reservoir is filled with liquid to thereby permit dispensing of the contents of the container.

2. In combination, a uid container having a flanged neck, a Washer on said neck and resting on said ange, a cylindrical cap member open at its top and bottom and tted about said neck and against said washer, a seal tting over said Iiange and about the cap member to hold the` latter in place, the cap member tapering slightly at its upper end to form a reduced mouth, the

body portion of the cap member having an undercut ange internally thereof and just below the tapered portion of the cap member, a valve guide having oppositely spaced legs fitted within the body and the upper edge of the legs abutting against said last-mentioned flange, a disc forming the top of the valve guide member and being less in diameter than the distance from the outer edge of one leg to the outer edge of its diametrically opposite leg to thereby provide passageways between the legs and said disc to the neck of the cap, a washer on the upper surface of the neck of the bottle to form a valve seat and held in position by the legs of the said valve guide, a reservoir valve open at its lower end and nrovided with a pocket on its top surface, said valve slidingly fitted within the valve guide member, a spring fitting within said pocket and bearing against the under surface of said disk, the lower peripheral edge of the valve resting on said seat when the container is in an upright position to thereby prevent refilling of the container, and said valve moving from said seat when the container is tipped and the said valve is lled with liquid to thereby permit the contents of the container to iiow beneath the valve along said legs, past said disc, and out through the neck of the cap.

JOSEPH ARTHUR PATTERSON. 

